Rights and Duties Between Spouses in Islam
Islam has greatly honored
marriage and made it one of the signs of Allah. If the servant reflects deeply on this sign,
fulfills its noble purposes, purifies his intention, and seeks to establish a Muslim household in accordance with the will of Allah, his soul will be
elevated in faith. Every moment spent safeguarding his family will be counted
in the scale of his good deeds. Since the preservation of the family depends on
the soundness of its foundation—the relationship between husband and wife—Islam
clarified the rights and duties of both spouses and emphasized their importance.
Knowing these mutual rights and obligations ensures that the household is built
on a strong foundation. The following are some of these rights and
responsibilities.
The Rights and Duties of Both Spouses in Islam
1.
Supporting One Another in Obedience to Allah
Islam made marriage a spiritual
fortress for both spouses, where each supports the other in obeying Allah and
strengthens the other in times of weakness. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (may
Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and
prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he should sprinkle water on her
face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and
awakens her husband; if he refuses, she would sprinkle water on his face.” (Abu
Dawud 1308, Al-Nasa’i 1610, Ibn Majah 1336, Ahmad 7404)
This encourages both spouses to
motivate each other when one grows lazy in worship, while showing mercy, gentleness, patience, and seriousness
in advice. Such behavior strengthens love and increases affection.
2.
Fulfilling Marital Needs and Intimacy
Islam emphasized the importance
of fulfilling the physical needs of both spouses so that neither neglects the
rights of the other. The Quran describes them as garments for one another, showing closeness, covering, and protection, for
each of them is preventing the other from falling into haram: {It has been made permissible for you to be intimate with
your wives during the nights preceding the fast. Your spouses are a
garment for you as you are for them.} [Al-Baqarah 2:187]
As is the norm in Shariah,
everything is given value beyond its material form. Fulfilling marital intimacy
was considered an act of charity. Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported
that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “…and
in a man’s sexual intercourse there is sadaqa.” On being asked whether a reward
would be given for satisfying one’s passion, he said, “Tell me; if he were to
devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly,
if he were to devote it to something lawful, he would have a reward.” (Muslim
1006)
This elevates the bond between
husband and wife, stressing its importance. Just as clothing is essential and
inseparable from one’s needs, so too is the fulfillment of each spouse’s needs
indispensable.
3.
Protecting Marital Secrets
One of the greatest shared rights
and duties between spouses is preserving the secrets of marital life. This is a trust that must never
be disclosed. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The worst
of people in position before Allah on the Day of Resurrection is the man who
has intercourse with his wife, and she with him, and then spreads her secrets.”
(Muslim 1437)
Husband and wife share with each
other what they would never share with others, materially and emotionally.
Revealing even a small part of this privacy threatens the stability of the
marriage. This value is especially needed in today’s age of social media, where many casually expose their private lives without
shame.
4.
Living with Each Other in Kindness
Revelation encouraged spouses to
live together with kindness: {Treat them fairly.}
[An-Nisa 4:19] This manifests in beautiful companionship, pleasant words
and actions, cheerful faces, kindness, refraining from harm, gentleness,
patience, and overlooking faults. No one is free from flaws. The Sunnah guided
us in this regard. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A
believer must not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her
characteristics he will be pleased with another.” (Muslim 1469)
Every believer has good qualities
and strives to purify their soul. Good companionship means enduring what one dislikes in exchange for
what one appreciates, while both spouses work on self-improvement and mutual
growth. This builds love, strengthens bonds, and creates tranquility and
respect, surrounding the home with serenity and stability.
5.
Safeguarding the Family and Household
Caring for the family is a trust
that both spouses share; it is not limited to one party alone but a mutual
responsibility ensuring order and stability. Abdullah Ibn Umar reported that
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Everyone
of you is a guardian and everyone of you is responsible (for his wards). A
ruler is a guardian and is responsible(for his subjects); a man is a guardian
of his family and responsible (for them); a wife is a guardian of her husband's
house and she is responsible (for it), a slave is a guardian of his master's
property and is responsible (for that). Beware! All of you are guardians and
are responsible (for your wards).” (Al-Bukhari
5188)
Thus, husband and wife complement
one another in protecting the home and raising the family—both materially and
spiritually—so that the household becomes a haven of peace and a field of love, raising righteous children with sound minds
and bodies.
6.
The Right of Inheritance
Among the often-overlooked
blessings is the right of inheritance after the death of a spouse. This
sustains affection even after separation by death and preserves the family’s
financial rights. Allah Says, {You will inherit
half of what your wives leave if they are childless. But if they have children,
then ˹your share is˺ one-fourth of the estate—after the
fulfilment of bequests and debts. And your wives will inherit one-fourth of
what you leave if you are childless. But if you have children, then your wives
will receive one-eighth of your estate.} [An-Nisa 4:12]
Allah gave the husband a fixed
portion in his wife’s estate and the wife a fixed portion in her husband’s
estate, regardless of whether they had children or not. This divine legislation
establishes justice, prevents disputes after death, and shows that the bond of
marriage extends with its effects even beyond this worldly life.
The regulation of rights and
duties between spouses in Islam is not a set of theoretical rulings but a
comprehensive structure aimed at establishing a cohesive family built upon
tranquility, love, and mercy. When both husband and wife abide by what Allah
has legislated, the home thrives, hearts find peace, and a righteous generation
grows, carrying values of responsibility and love, becoming a solid brick in building the Muslim society.
For Further Reading:
- Marriage Without Excess: Love, Simplicity, and Contentment
- 5 Key Islamic Principles for the First Year of Marriage
- Make Your Homes a Sacred Sanctuary
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